Ruth Handler, often referred to as “Barbie’s mom,” founded Mattel Creations in 1945 with her husband Elliot. Fourteen years later, after noticing a product void in the world of paper dolls her daughter Barbara played with, Handler created Barbie, the Teenage Fashion Model. The doll, sporting the infamous black-and-white striped swimsuit and signature ponytail, debuted at the annual Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959 and sold for $3.

“When she was first developed, she was a different kind of doll. She was a fashion doll — that was something different. I think she became popular because you could buy things for her. It was a lot different than the baby doll we were given,” said Maria Bruno, an MSU associate professor of writing, rhetoric and American culture. “I was a child when she was first developed, but I didn’t have Barbie, but some of my friends did. I think she was one of the first dolls where you could buy all these different accessories.

“Also, she just represented … being feminine and grown up and wearing nice clothes.”

Mattel estimates 90 percent of girls ages 3-10 in the United States own at least one Barbie, with 12 being the average number of dolls owned by U.S. girls ages 3-6.

Hannah Imber, a classical studies sophomore, said part of the appeal of Barbie is how she allows children to manifest their imaginations into actual scenarios.

“I got them when I was younger and I usually didn’t get to play with them a lot because I had two brothers. So most of the time I had to play with boys’ stuff, but sometimes we could somehow incorporate (Barbie),” said Imber, who owned a Barbie boat in addition to her dolls. “So it was really weird. We would have bats and GI Joes, along with Barbies. It was rather strange.”

 

Marking a milestone

Barbie’s 50-year celebration included a runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York on Feb. 14 featuring the work of 50 fashion designers, including Tory Burch and threeASFOUR. She also will be celebrating with a party at her “real” Malibu Dream House on March 9, as well as with displays, exhibits and store openings in New York, Paris and Shanghai, China.

“Barbie’s legendary 50th year will be the most epic, global celebration in the brand’s history,” said Richard Dickson, general manager and senior vice president of Barbie, in a statement.

“There are very few brands in the world that serve as a reflection of fashion, culture and aspiration like the Barbie brand, and this allows us the honor of partnering and celebrating alongside an unprecedented roster of the world’s most famous and respected names. This is certainly a celebration of 50 fabulous years; however, Barbie’s 50th anniversary is also very much about unveiling the next chapter for the Barbie brand and celebrating our future.”

Imber said one reason for Barbie’s 50-year success is her willingness to change over time.

“When you look back at the 1950s Barbies, it’s so much different than the ones they have now. Now they have, you know, beach Barbies,” she said. “It just appeals to each generation and changes along the way.”

Some of Barbie’s earliest careers include flight attendant and candy striper volunteer. From 2000 to the present, her careers include Olympic swimmer, presidential candidate, “American Idol” winner, zoologist and fashion magazine intern.

Barbies currently range in price from $5.99 to $24.99, for noncollector dolls.

 

Controversial measurements

According to calculations, were the original Barbie life-size, her measurements would be about 39-23-33, with a size 3 children’s shoe. According to The New York Times in 2003, the average woman would have to grow 24 inches (making her more than 7-feet tall), take 6 inches off her waist and add 5 to her chest.

In 1997, Barbie underwent a breast reduction surgery to give her a more “teen-like” physique.

“Her body was distinctively different than the way it was within the 20 years after she was developed,” Bruno said. “She got those turbo breasts and the longer legs and the bigger hair. Because she first came out with a ponytail and it was quite innocent looking, but she got a little trashier as she got more popular.”

Bruno said her own daughters had Barbies, but that wasn’t their only toy. Although Barbie may reflect unrealistic beauty standards for little girls, she said people should just be aware of the image that is being portrayed. It’s even present in the different kinds of Barbies that are produced, such as the international Barbies or presidential Barbies.

“It’s the same doll and the same body. They just put her in president Barbie suit. But how could that be negative?” Bruno said. “But I also think it just teaches girls to accumulate things and about accumulating things about beauty. Even if it’s president Barbie, the little girl is going to do her hair and consider her a model for the beauty ideal.”